As Bali seeks to redistribute tourism away from the congested central south of the island, local leaders are coming forward to promote overlooked cultural gems in lesser-visited areas of the island.
Karangasem Regency is home to some of Bali’s most significant cultural and geographical landmarks, and leaders invite tourists to discover all that ‘Mountain Country’ has to offer.
The most iconic natural landmark in Karangasem Regency is, of course, the sacred Mount Agung. The tallest peak on the island is a deeply revered spiritual landscape that offers tourists a wealth of enlightening and memorable travel opportunities.
Karangasem is also home to the most spiritually significant site for Balinese Hindus, Pura Agung Besakih, also known as the Mother Temple.
The Regent of Karangasem Regency is on a mission to attract more tourists to the area. Leading resorts in Karangsem Regency include the likes of Amed and Tulamben.
Yet, most tourists only visit the region as part of day trips to Mount Agung and the world-famous Gates of Heaven Temple.
The Regency Government will be promoting a tour package focusing on what they are calling Nyegara Gunung, meaning Mountain Country.
Tour packages, whether day trips or multi-day adventures, will focus on the relationship between spirituality and the natural landscape in the region.
Gusti Putu Parwata, speaking on behalf of the Karnaagsaem Regency Government, told reporters, “So far, we [Karangasem] have always been mesmerized by the concept of spiritual tourism.”
“This concept is indeed very good, but tourists who come only travel [briefly], for accommodation and culinary, most [tourists focus] in Badung and Denpasar.”
He and many other tourism leaders and local residents in Karangasem want to see culturally respectful tourism prevail across Bali, but especially in East Bali, a region that is comparatively undeveloped in terms of mass tourism.
As province-wide Bali seeks to promote destinations that are less developed for the mass market and have strong cultural attractions to promote to both international and domestic tourists, Karangasem Regency is primed to succeed.
Parawata added, “To balance the concept of spiritual and cultural tourism, there also needs to be tourism with an entertainment concept. This is very important, and tourists want to stay longer in Karangasem.”
But it is not only mountain slopes and temples that Karangasem has to offer. The east coast of Bali is home to some of the last remaining untouched beach paradises in the province.
Local leader Pandu Prapanca Lagosa explained that a mix of cultural and entertainment tourism activities will be the key to the region’s long-term success.
He noted that Seraya is an untapped gem for tourists seeking a coastal retreat with access to all the cultural and natural wonders Karangasem has to offer.
Lagosa explained, “The Seraya area has beaches, and nature is also very beautiful. If this is developed into a tourism area with an entertainment concept, I am sure many investors will look at it.”
He said that as Seraya prepares to become a tourism resort, lessons must be learned from the likes of similar destinations such as Sanur and Nusa Penida.
Lagosa added, “If the Seraya area and its surroundings are worked on seriously, I am sure it will have a domino effect on the economic growth of the community. Not only that, Seraya and its surroundings will become a golden triangle of tourism because the distance to Nusa Penida and Gili Trawangan is very close.”
Seraya is a collection of traditional Balinese villages located off the coast of Karangasem Regency.
Located between established but overlooked Karangasem gems like Candidasa and Bunutan, Seraya could be Bali’s next hottest travel destination.
The most famous attraction and activity in Karnaagsem Regency is, of course, the sunrise hike to Mount Agung.
Arranging a guided tour is easy and affordable, with hiking groups scaling the summit almost every day.
Tourists planning on hiking any of Bali’s mountains and volcanos, whether Mount Agung, Mount Batur, Mount Batukaru, Mount Abang, or others, must hire a local guide and respect the deeply sacred nature of the peaks.
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